HubSpot is an all-in-one marketing tool and customer relationship management software (and no they do not pay us to say such nice things about them!) They have an amazing and robust knowledge base, but we thought we would create an all encompassing resource for newbies first adding a tracking code to their website. A WHAT?Tracking code is a snippet of code that tracks the activity of a website user by collecting data and sending it to HubSpot. You have heard of cookies right? No not the ones you eat, but the ones in your browser! The tracking code uses a cookie to anonymously track a visitor across your site. When a visitor fills out a form, say for example to join your mailing list, that submission will then add them as a contact to HubSpot, or associate them to an existing contact!
WIX
SQUARESPACE
SHOPIFY This one and the next one are a little tricky, so we recommend following the instructions here: tinyurl.com/mtcn7j3k WORDPRESS Follow the instructions here: tinyurl.com/bp8fah46 WEEBLY
how to GET SET UP
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A MEMBERSHIP SYSTEM |
We all know engaging with your members leads to higher retention and stronger interest and volunteerism. So what are some ways we can automate these processes to make our engagement easy?
1. Increase engagement by hosting an event.
We all host different events with different budgets, guest lists, etc. but how can we leverage the engagement from these events? Try sending a personalized message inviting major influencers/donors/investors to attend in addition to your usual marketing and don't forget to thank guests for attending. Events can easily be automated in HubSpot with their paid features, but even with the free version there are a multitude of ways:
2. Survey your members.
Survey Monkey is just one of the many survey services out there to get feedback from your members. Ask members and participants about their overall opinions or ask them questions regarding about a specific event.
3. Meet up with members.
Going to a conference? Traveling? Let your members know. Set up a meeting if they live in the area. Ask if anyone else will also be traveling to the conference. Ask for recommendations of people you should meet while there. Host a get-together
4. Write a blog and automate your content.
There a number of cutting edge computer softwares and apps to write blog posts that are being developed. Though most still have a long way to go, our favorite is AI Writer. Chances are it will need some editing, but it will definitely help you get started. Also, do not re-invent the wheel. Make your content once and share it across your platforms. When making a blog post, use images that are square to fit on your multiple social media channels. Copy and paste quotes from the article into your social media scheduler.
5. Send eNewlsetters.
Mailchimp is our favorite way to send eNewsletters, but there are plenty of options for creating colorful emails that keep your members up to date. We recommend trying a few types of emails: Maybe your members prefer a round-up, others may want specific event-related emails or "how-to" content. To automate these take some time and set up a flawless template you can use every time and use that scheduling tool. (Pro tip: Make a fabulous graphic for your email that can be used on your social media, or take a screenshot to post later)
6. Create fast and easy videos.
Are you always running trying to work on the next project, and still trying to make fabulous video content for your audience? Try Canva or Magisto. Take a few video clips and a few photos and quickly make them into a video to increase your marketing reach and increase your engagement. (Pro tip: Pick one editing style that works with your branding, one music style and pick them every time, this will help with both your branding and your time!)
7. Utilize tools to help with your social media outreach.
Schedule your posts and use a schedule to keep this simple. There are so many options for scheduling posts: Hootsuite, Buffer, Later, Sendible, and now you can just use the Meta Business Suite. Pick one that works for you, and then create a schedule.
8. Have an easy-to-use, engaging website.
There is NO reason to have a poorly designed, static website. There are multiple ways to build a website literally in minutes and good branding has a huge impact on your member engagement. Our favorite website builder is Weebly. To keep your content timely, try adding the Bloggons app to automatically update your homepage with your latest blog posts or try tockify to create a user-generated calendars that can be added to any site.
9. Create opportunities for volunteerism.
Most people want to be apart of something larger than themselves and if they can find a sense of belonging in what you are doing, they will most likely become your best promoter. But how can you automate volunteering? Well, you can post volunteer opportunities on Idealist, this will make the process of finding volunteers easy. Then use a volunteer sign-up tool, like SignUp or Sign Up Genius to schedule when you need help and allow the volunteer to select a time. This means the only work you have to do, is be yourself when they arrive.
1. Increase engagement by hosting an event.
We all host different events with different budgets, guest lists, etc. but how can we leverage the engagement from these events? Try sending a personalized message inviting major influencers/donors/investors to attend in addition to your usual marketing and don't forget to thank guests for attending. Events can easily be automated in HubSpot with their paid features, but even with the free version there are a multitude of ways:
- Make registration as easy as possible for your guests and you by automating your registration system to update your CRM, and emailing platforms (Pro tip: Both zoom and Eventbright have HubSpot apps)
- Try using the Gmail HubSpot extension to make email templates so you can quickly send for FAQs, or use Canned Responses in the gmail lab (found in settings)
- Is your registration system automatically sending event reminders? It should be.
- To send physical automated cards, check out a service like Postable
2. Survey your members.
Survey Monkey is just one of the many survey services out there to get feedback from your members. Ask members and participants about their overall opinions or ask them questions regarding about a specific event.
- Schedule your surveys in advance to happen the day after an event
- Include open ended responses and pick your favorite quotes for social media posts the following week
- With Survey Monkey, you can email the participants directly from the service. When you do this, you can have the survey seem anonymous, when in actuality each response is linked with the person's email.
- And did we mention, there is a Survey Monkey app for HubSpot?
3. Meet up with members.
Going to a conference? Traveling? Let your members know. Set up a meeting if they live in the area. Ask if anyone else will also be traveling to the conference. Ask for recommendations of people you should meet while there. Host a get-together
- If you are meeting with members often, and need help scheduling, you have to check out this mind-blowing tool called X.AI that gives you a virtual AI assistant that does the scheduling for you (or you can use HubSpot's booking page)
- If this is just a few times a year, canned responses should help you quickly contact a number of people who are receiving the same message
- Asking someone important in the field? Use HubSpot's gmail extension to track the email to see if it the recipient opens it, this way you can follow up with a phone call and pin down the person
4. Write a blog and automate your content.
There a number of cutting edge computer softwares and apps to write blog posts that are being developed. Though most still have a long way to go, our favorite is AI Writer. Chances are it will need some editing, but it will definitely help you get started. Also, do not re-invent the wheel. Make your content once and share it across your platforms. When making a blog post, use images that are square to fit on your multiple social media channels. Copy and paste quotes from the article into your social media scheduler.
5. Send eNewlsetters.
Mailchimp is our favorite way to send eNewsletters, but there are plenty of options for creating colorful emails that keep your members up to date. We recommend trying a few types of emails: Maybe your members prefer a round-up, others may want specific event-related emails or "how-to" content. To automate these take some time and set up a flawless template you can use every time and use that scheduling tool. (Pro tip: Make a fabulous graphic for your email that can be used on your social media, or take a screenshot to post later)
6. Create fast and easy videos.
Are you always running trying to work on the next project, and still trying to make fabulous video content for your audience? Try Canva or Magisto. Take a few video clips and a few photos and quickly make them into a video to increase your marketing reach and increase your engagement. (Pro tip: Pick one editing style that works with your branding, one music style and pick them every time, this will help with both your branding and your time!)
7. Utilize tools to help with your social media outreach.
Schedule your posts and use a schedule to keep this simple. There are so many options for scheduling posts: Hootsuite, Buffer, Later, Sendible, and now you can just use the Meta Business Suite. Pick one that works for you, and then create a schedule.
8. Have an easy-to-use, engaging website.
There is NO reason to have a poorly designed, static website. There are multiple ways to build a website literally in minutes and good branding has a huge impact on your member engagement. Our favorite website builder is Weebly. To keep your content timely, try adding the Bloggons app to automatically update your homepage with your latest blog posts or try tockify to create a user-generated calendars that can be added to any site.
9. Create opportunities for volunteerism.
Most people want to be apart of something larger than themselves and if they can find a sense of belonging in what you are doing, they will most likely become your best promoter. But how can you automate volunteering? Well, you can post volunteer opportunities on Idealist, this will make the process of finding volunteers easy. Then use a volunteer sign-up tool, like SignUp or Sign Up Genius to schedule when you need help and allow the volunteer to select a time. This means the only work you have to do, is be yourself when they arrive.
10. Pick up the phone and call them. The 80/20 rule is real! 80% of your members will be passive, but 20% will make up your top supporters. Don't automate your top supporters, call them! Yes it's time consuming and yes you have to figure out your excuse for checking in, but HubSpot makes it easy. Track your phone call and document what you spoke about. Know when they make their annual trip to Florida, ask about their relatives. Take notes about your conversation and keep them in HubSpot, so they are searchable later. Get to know your 20% intimately and check-in often. They will support and fund your future endeavors and be your biggest allies. |